Strange first deal on July 1 from the Maple Leafs here, bringing back Matt Frattin in exchange for Jerry D’Amigo and a 7th round pick.

Bringing Matt Frattin back was an idea we bounced around these parts given the former Leafs sixth round pick has failed to catch on in two separate cities, Los Angeles and Columbus, and never showed the same promise as he did here, despite an opportunity in LA’s top 6 initially. Frattin had 13 points in 25 games in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.

The Leafs moved Frattin to LA in the Jonathan Bernier deal after bowing out to the Bruins in the playoffs.

Jerry D’Amigo is a kid a number of fans were excited to see take the full-time NHL step next season. Initial reaction is that it would’ve maybe been preferred to find some way, be it a slightly higher pick or an additional low pick, to bring Frattin back without letting D’Amigo go.

D’Amigo was the Toronto Marlies all-time leader playoff goals and showed some good spunk in his callups. There’s a chance he develops into a solid third line winger someday. That’s nothing franchise altering to lose, but this trade brings about mixed feelings.

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In Frattin’s time as a Marlie he flashed more upside than D’Amigo did, including an amazing run of 10 goals in 13 games when the Marlies went to the Calder Cup final in 2012. He posted 13 points in 25 games in 2012-13, and scored a nice goal versus Boston in the playoffs. Frattin is 3 years older than D’Amigo, however, and there’s question marks if he’ll even have much of an NHL career at this point.

Alec Brownscombe is the founder of MapleLeafsHotStove.com, where he has written daily about the Leafs since September of 2008. He was also the editor of the 2009-13 Maple Leafs Annual magazines. You can contact him at [email protected]